WHO WAS FELIX KANITZ?

We have a need to share briefly with you the biography of a world-famous man from the 19th and 20th century, who loved the Balkans, but the most our country Serbia.

Hungarian royal advisor, a knight of the Austrian Order of Franz Joseph, the medalist of science and art, Serbian holder of the Order of Saint Sava, a member of the Royal Saxon Academy of Sciences. All of this is just a small part of everything that is prescribed to Mr. Felix Kanitz.

He loved to explore river and mineral resources and was a lover of ancient heritage and folk customs. Above all, he was the artist who created hundreds of drawings, in which mainly dominate landscapes and buildings he visited.

From 1860 to 1897, he stayed in Negotin for six times. He particularly liked to meet with our famous composer Stevan Stojanovic Mokranjac. As he said, they had common topics for discussion about encouraging generations to be persistent and make this country better. He also used to call our famous composer the lighter side of Serbia.

Felix was the scientist who tirelessly wrote about the history of some areas. Finally, each time again and again, he felt the fresh breath of life when he walked through the landscapes of Serbia. He would proudly show people later how our country was rich not only in nature in those years of the 19th century but also in the Roman heritage that is the subject of many world texts even today.

However, he did not hesitate to show the dark side of each country, as well as of ours. But, the dark images he presented to the readers were used as a warning for the new generations and an example of what else there was to be done. Through his works on Serbia, we can perceive how he used to change his attitude every time he came to our area. He sometimes used to be so subjective in his presentations that he even sought explanations and justifications for the irresponsible behavior of civil servants, non-compliance with legal norms, destruction of cultural and historical treasures, the sale of cultural heritage etc.

After traveling through Serbia, Kanitz published two works of minor volume: Roman findings in Serbia published in Vienna in 1861 and few years later Serbian Byzantine monuments.

One of his most important works and the peak of the archaeological research is the Roman studies, in which he stressed the commitment to prevent the destruction of cultural treasures.

We would like to share with you a quote in which we find inspiration while writing articles about our country:

`I THINK THAT WHAT I CARE THE MOST IS THAT MY RESEARCH ENCOURAGES YOUNGER POWER TO A MORE SUCCESSFUL ENDEAVOR`.

We would not dwell about more about him, but the inevitable conclusion we can draw from this is the following:

If a respected author, a stranger, could describe with such an attention and dedication each site in Serbia where he was staying, from Sederevo via Negotin, Zrenjanin, Trsic etc. why we would not be like him? Why wouldn`t we write more about the beauty of our country?

Serbia is pictured the same as some other poor countries in the world, almost being on the verge of existence, for centuries under the Ottomans, far from progress. And if you tell a stranger you live in Serbia, he will mix it with an imaginary Sajberija, Sibir, Syria…

Ok, I understand!

We are not the perfect glowing lanterns, through which streets one can hear laughter and joy. You know… no country is perfect. Ideal is actually the fruit of our illusions. But, it should not be said that we are a country that had nothing to be proud of.

In addition to being in the centre of the Balkans, inexhaustible natural landscapes, valuable cultural and historical heritage, interesting customs and traditionally rich cuisine, we have very interesting tourist and cultural program that is apparently not promoted enough.

Serbia is one country in the mountainous Balkans, which is the home of golden basketball players and dolphins, golden eaglets, some of the best tennis players in the world.

It is the country with rich inventory in valuable ores and minerals, untamed and unused power with a huge potential for development – in hydropower, solar energy and other forms of bioenergy.

It is the country visited by many young people from the neighborhood looking for a good… nah, THE BEST entertainment in the Balkans.

It is the country with the most beautiful women in the Balkans, because they have tenderness and sensuality of old Slovenian and `hot` southern blood of Kostana.

Serbia – a country where people are widely known for their hospitality and kindness.